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Gaby des Lys

Anytime · Aperitivo/aperitif · Classic/vintage

3.8 33 ratings

Ingredients

2 oz Gin
1/4 oz Orgeat syrup
1/4 oz Lemon juice
1/12 oz Absinthe
2 dash Orange bitters

How to make

Serve in a coupe glass

Method

  1. 1 Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
  2. 2 SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  3. 3 FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

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Flavour profile

25.0% alc./vol. · 1.5 standard drinks · 167 calories

History

Absinthe subtly flavours this gin sour with almond notes.

This cocktail is an adaptation of a classic that first appears in Charles H. Baker, Jr.'s 1939 "The Gentleman's Companion volume II – An Exotic Drinking Book." The original version did not include lemon juice or bitters. The improved rendition presented here is by J. E. Clapham of Clapham Cocktails. The drink is named for the French singer and actress Gaby Deslys (born Marie-Elise-Gabrielle Caire, 1881-1920). She was renowned for her beauty. In Charles H. Baker's words, "Gaby the lovely, Gaby the delightfully mad, Gaby the free soul – who died too young and gave a fortune in pearls to the Paris poor!". Her will indeed left her villa and all other property in Marseilles to the poor of that city. GABY des LYS COCKTAIL, ONE from OLD NEW YORK PRE-PROHIBITION DAYS when DIAMOND JIM BRADY WAS ALIVE, & the WINTER GARDEN WAS NEW YORK's only SMOKING THEATRE, and the IMMORTAL GABY WAS PLAYING with AL JOLSON & HARRY PILCER. "Gaby the lovely, Gaby the delightfully mad, Gaby the free soul – who died too young and gave a fortune in pearls to the Paris poor! Gaby is gone, and Bustanoby's old Beaux Arts is gone, and the first Rector's is a memory, but her memory marches on – and this cocktail named in her honour." It is a very simple, crisp drink. To 1 jigger of good dry gin add ½ pony of orgeat syrup and 1 tsp of absinthe, or a trifle less. Frappe very cold indeed, or it will tend to over-sweetness, and serve in a Manhattan glass.

Created by J. E. Clapham of Clapham Cocktails